Medlen is candidate to start wild card game

The right-hander pitched eight shutout innings Wednesday night, and the Braves defeated the Marlins 3-0 for their 21st straight win in a game started by Medlen.

Medlen, who already set the franchise mark for longest team winning streak in games started by a pitcher, rocketed ahead of Roger Clemens, who won 20 straight with the Yankees in 2001.

It is the longest mark in the majors since the Yankees won 22 straight starts by Whitey Ford in the 1950 and 1953 seasons.

Since joining the rotation on July 31, Atlanta could not ask much more from Medlen, who has put himself in consideration to start in the wild card play-in game.

Should the National League East standings hold and the Braves make the playoffs as a wild card, Atlanta's options for the October 5 game will likely come down to Medlen and veteran Tim Hudson.

While Hudson has a boatload of playoff experience, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez can't overlook Medlen, who has simply been the best starter in the majors since August.

The 26-year-old has allowed just seven runs, six earned, while walking a Greg Maddux-like nine and striking out 72 in 70 2/3 innings.

Medlen has gone at least six innings in each of his last eight starts that were not limited by a pitch count and boasts the best ERA by a starter (0.76) over that span. No other starter has an ERA under 2.

The Braves have used those Medlen starts to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the wild card pack and, barring another historic, collapse are bound for the postseason.

And if it comes down to one game to extend Chipper Jones' last postseason, why not Medlen? When he starts, all the Braves do is win.

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MLB Team Report - Atlanta Braves - NOTES, QUOTES

--RHP Craig Kimbrel escaped a second-and-third, two-out jam in the ninth to record his 38th save of the year in Atlanta's 3-0 win over Miami on Wednesday. Kimbrel was able to record the save without a strikeout in the inning. It was just the second time in 41 appearances that Kimbrel has not has had a strikeout in an outing.

--INF Paul Janish returned to Atlanta to have the extent of his dislocated left shoulder injury assessed. He will meet with team orthopedist Dr. Xavier Duralde on Thursday. The infielder was hurt diving for a ball in the bottom of the ninth inning of Atlanta's 10-inning loss on Tuesday.

--SS Andrelton Simmons missed his second straight game with a jammed left shoulder. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said that he hopes to have Simmons back in the lineup on Friday in Philadelphia.

--3B Chipper Jones singled in the third inning to tie Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig for 58th place on the all-time hits list with 2,721. Roberto Alomar is next on the list with 2,724.

--The Jones farewell tour continued in Miami, where the retiring Atlanta future Hall of Famer was given flyfishing equipment from the Marlins. As has been customary in his last trip through the majors, the fans at Marlins Park gave Jones a standing ovation. He responded by tipping his cap to the crowd.

BY THE NUMBERS: 40 -- Homers hit by Chipper Jones against the Marlins -- the most of any opposing hitter.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "That's a good question. I don't know yet. For me, it's between (Tim) Hudson and (Kris) Medlen." -- Manager Fredi Gonzalez on which Atlanta starter would be given the nod to start a potential NL wild card game.

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MLB Team Report - Atlanta Braves - ROSTER REPORT

MEDICAL WATCH:

--SS Paul Janish (dislocated left shoulder) was injured diving for a ball Sept. 18 and had to leave the game. He returned to Atlanta on Sept. 19 for further examination.

--OF Matt Diaz (bruised right thumb) went on the 15-day disabled list July 21. He had his arm placed in a cast July 28 to promote healing in the thumb, but it didn't work, and he underwent season-ending surgery Aug. 15.

--RHP Brandon Beachy (sore right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list June 17. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery June 21.

--LHP Robert Fish (left elbow tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He was transferred to the 60-day DL on Sept. 1.